AusBonsai

Hi everyone,

I'm Josh and new to the bonsai world so I would appreciate any help you can give me with this tree.

I bought it from ebay for $450 and was told it was 40+ years old. Now that I have it in person I think the images online were photoshopped as there is some significant issues with the tree that are extremely difficult to see in the photos. I will post some better ones later but below are both the ebay photos and a couple I took today.

I got it this morning and havent done anything to it. Someone has obviously tried some wiring and training at some point but it is all pretty ordinary. On the plus side the tree does look healthy and has a lot of new sprouts.

Anyway I have it now so I have to make the most of it. I do think the tree has potential, but will require some serous work. I am very open to suggestions to get this tree back in shape...

Looking at the tree I think the main difference between the Ebay photos and the now photos is that the tree has grown a lot of new growth in the mean time. It is good basic material and will, with time and skills, make an excellent bonsai.

It is not all that different from my swampy when I started it many years ago.Link below.

viewtopic.php?f=129&t=5611&hilit=+Swampy

Grant

Hi Josh and welcome. It looks like the same tree - they just had the scar around the back in the photos. Doesn't look too bad - what height and diameter is it ? A tip - put something in the photos to help with scale - stubbie or cigarette lighter are usual. I would get it into a cut down pot in a free draining mix and sit it in a gravel bed. Feed it heaps of chook poo and start growing some branches.

Thanks Grant, if my tree gets anywhere near the level of your swampy I will be over the moon, if that takes 30 years that is fine by me.

Tony the height of the tree is 98cm, with a diameter of approx 30cm. It is difficult to see but there is a can which is visible in the last couple of photos which make it a bit easier to get perspective in regards to it's size. Thanks for the advice in regards to getting it into a cutdown pot, is that something I can do now or do I need to wait until Winter?

I am still doing some research and trying to work out what I would like to achieve with this tree, but I need to substantially reduce the height at some point. There is some good information on this site about the best way of going about it, but I am a little uncertain when I should actually do it. Is it better to do it sooner rather than later? Is there a particular season I should do it in to give the tree the best chance of recovering quickly?

Realistically what should I be aiming to achieve in the next 12-18 months with my tree?

Thanks everyone...

Ha ha yes I see the can now Wait until the heat wave passes - and then you can repot. Put it in a free draining mix - some good quality potting mix and diatomite will do. Put it in a gravel tray or better still let it root through into the ground if you have a garden. Feed it handfuls of DL and let it grow for a while. The diameter can't be 30 cm - is that the circumference ? I disagree about reducing the height - it looks OK in the photos although it appears to lack taper in the lower half. To chop and grow back this tree I would think you would need at least 10 years. In the next year I think you should just be looking and getting it to grow back - remember this is a hobby where you need patience in spades

I agree I don't think it needs a chop-the height looks right. Bougy is right also about the repot and feeding, the more it grows the more options you will have.